A family cinema trip is a treat surely? not an every day occurrence?

[LittleBookofCalm]

According to the news, end of the news, someone talking about being really badly off and saying they couldnt have a family trip to the cinema and how wrong it was that they couldnt afford this

I would argue that it is a Treat, spending that sort of money -

Of course cinema tickets were cheaper in the past but were they really that much cheaper.

The average price seems to be around £10 for an adult although it is possible to get them cheaper with Groupon, Meerkat, Tesco etc. That is hardly expensive for a couple of hours entertainment. As I said above a cup of grotty coffee in Starbucks is around £3 and people seem to pay that without moaning. How much are a couple of drinks in a pub?

It was still a treat for us in the 7Os and we never actually went as a family looking back!
Same with us,I think Birdsgottafly is looking back with rose coloured glasses to the 60s and 70s
It was probably less than once a year until i was old enough to earn my own money when i started work. My parents both had full time jobs, my DM worked as a secretary in London
I did earn free swimming when i got my red badge at swimming and earned a book of 30 swim tickets. I also remember being freezing all through the winter and soles flapping on my sandals. Clothes werent cheap like they are now.

Its more expensive round our way it seemed fine this thread!

Anyway for me there is nothing I want to see.

My sister and I used to love to go and watch films and have a girly night once a month. Our cinema used to do £2.50 Tuesdays, or it was £5 the rest of the week, so for two of us £5-£10 for 2-3 hours out.
Now that same cinema 5 years on, hasn't been done up in any way (is actually very old fashioned and in need of modernisation) is £10 per ticket, plus £1 per hour car parking. Even on 2 for 1 Tuesdays that's £10 tickets plus probably £3 parking, but on a weekend makes it £23. For a family ticket it's £29. Absolutely bloody ridiculous when a DVD is £10.

I remember going to watch 4 films at the cinema in town in my childhood (just totted them up) before the bumper year when I saw Grease AND Saturday Night Fever.

Well we use to go as a family - mum, dad and 3 children. Not every week but quite a bit and my family were pretty poor. That was in the 60's

I used to go to Saturday morning pictures every week. Can't remember how much it cost.

When me and DH first started going out we went to the cinema at least 4 times a week. Most time we went to the National Film Theatre. That was 1980. Again I can't remember how much it cost.

We go the cinema now about once or twice a month. Watching films on tv is just not the same.

We both love going to the theatre but that is so much dearer.

People say cinemas don't get busy now but they do where I live. Often if you don't pre-book tickets you can't get in or they only have the front 2 rows available (I can't sit that close to the screen). I was speaking to someone who works in a cinema and he said they are usually busy especially Friday and Saturday evenings. He said a lot of youngsters (early 20's) see the same film more than once

Used to go to our local cinema in the 70s. It was 20p.

Even on £80 per month wages and £60 per month rent I still could afford the cinema

With regard to the cinemas and looking back...
Always better to face the actual screen.

Ok, ok, I'll get my coat!

We live 1hr driving time from the closest cinema and probably go once or twice a year- will probably go more when DD is older (only 18 mo just now). Too expensive to go any more, popcorn and drinks are way overpriced at our one.

Torn!

nessun, but why do you need popcorn and drink? Do you sit watching tv every night eating and drinking?

I just don't understand why people associate watching a film with eating and drinking. I would never go to one of the cinemas that serve meals.

When me and DH used to go to the National Film Theatre they didn't allow food or drink inside. I don't know if it's still the same.

I dislike all the rustling of bags in cinemas and slurping of drink. I go to watch a film and like to really get involved in it. I can't do that if there is a lot of noise. Also the smell of things like nachos I dislike

I drink tea when i watch a film at home, and nip to the loo, and vape, so you eat in the cinema, instead.!

It's a treat in our house and it was a treat in our house growing up (even though we were reasonably well off growing up.)

I do think it is sad to have it priced out of the reach of some people. The prices are ridiculous in some cinemas.

Yes it's sad if poorer people can't even afford the reasonably priced cinemas (eg £20 for a family of 4), but when it starts costing £80 or whatever including drinks and snacks, you then have to start questioning the value for money, it's not a matter of whether people on lower incomes have enough money to go to the cinema, more that, the cinema charges far too much for what it is offering.

I could afford £12 to go to the cinema and £8 for popcorn and a drink, but I wouldn't pay it because I think that's a stupid rip off.

So two issues, yes it's wrong that people can't even afford a modestly priced treat of cheaper cinema tickets and pound shop sweets, but the prices charged for drinks and snacks in the cinema have always been stupid prices, I don't think I've ever bought them, years ago I looked on occasion, laughed and walked away and vowed to bring my own stuff next time.

It is a treat but it is also horrendously overpriced. So while it could have been a regular treat when I was little (we didn’t have much cash but still managed to go) now it is ridiculous - £50 upward just for the film never mind the sweets.

Oh and the travel to get to the multiplex! Without a car it would push the costs so high where I live as public transport is shit but expensive.

I would say it is a treat not a necessity. We don't go once a month, we go a handful of times a year.

We go to the local independent cinema as it is much cheaper. It costs around £13 for 1 a 1 c tickets.

We go to the special kids weekend morning showings too if we can as it is only £2 each. We take sweets with us.

Cinema tickets are outrageously expensive these days and it soon mounts up with a whole family. I can't afford to go to the cinema as often as I'd like and when I go it has to be something I really want to see. Saying that we often get free tickets for previews of films and we bring our own popcorn and drinks . We then only have to pay for parking unless we go to Cineworld which has free parking where we live.

We've had a lot of press coverage lately over our only "local" cinema, a Vue, it costs £14 for adult, £9 for a child and is 20 odd miles away, yet the same chain 40 miles away is less than half that cost ( but then twice the cost of travelling and parking!) so definitely an out-of-reach treat for my family I am afraid

Yes, it's a treat. My own children haven't been to the cinema in 5 years because it is beyond our budget.

Let's face it - the world has gone mad, the price of everything is ridiculous. People spend outrageous amounts of money on their kids - xmas & birthdays were the only times we got a treat but these days every day has become an occasion, the more they get the more they want and parents keep giving it.

Cinema is the cheapest passtime where we live, £17 for 2 adults & 2 kids, but then there's drinks & whatever else to eat during the film - then afterwards they want food - £50 by the time they've done.

Bowling - £53 for 4 people for 2 games - ridiculous, then there's drinks & food.

Alton Towers £55 per person - yes there might be loads of rides but £220 for a day for a family of 4, plus drinks & food - and people keep paying it.

Got a friend/family who goes to a theme park every weekend, kids get face on if they don't go one time - it's what they've been given & got used to, they think it's normal.

I think it’s a treat, we probably go twice a year at the most, by the time we have bought tickets, food and fuel to get there it becomes very expensive.

Everyone deserves a treat though, we just prefer to spend money on other things (better treats).

I think it’s a sign of how unequal our society has become and with every indication that conditions will continue to decline. People like the OP seem too begrudge the poor ( too often working poor) activities they consider to be non necessities. Actually a family outing to the cinema or such like once or twice a year should not be regarded as a luxury the poor shouldn’t aspire to — that deprives children of normal mainstream experiences. It’s like looking in a poor family’s supermarket basket and tut tutting when you see a packet of chocolate biscuits or crisps. This is really Victorian thinking where the poor are regarded as a lesser breed. Ok many are in straightened circumstances now and do not choose to go to the cinema very often, to spend their disposable income on something they feel is better value. Good for them. But at least they can make that choice and they do have a disposable income, however small. Many families are not as fortunate.
I have worked with families where the children have had few enriching experiences that a few years back we regarded as the norm. Eg never seen the sea, never been on a train, never been to the cinema or the zoo. Surely we want more for this country’s kids in the 21st Century?

I'd love to "shop around" but we have zilch independent, cheap cinemas anywhere near us. Even our "local" Vue (10 miles away) is £6.74 per ticket, that's another £1.75 per person than you with the £4.99 tickets are paying. And then you've got fuel and parking charges on top.
Our closest cinema is 5 miles away, but it's an Odeon and very expensive

I think their view of really badly off is extremely skewed tbh.